QLM Search is partnering a highly acquisitive group with a broad portfolio spanning food manufacturing, beverages, and speciality ingredients.
Following a period of significant growth, the business is looking to appoint a Group Director – Capital Projects & Engineering Excellence.
Operating across multiple well-established business units and with a significant European footprint, the group continues to grow through ongoing capital investment, operational expansion, and targeted M&A activity.
Reporting directly to the COO, this high-profile role, will set the vision for world-class engineering delivery, ensure robust governance across all major investments, and drive consistency, discipline, and excellence across the network.
You will lead a high-value capital programme that spans greenfield development, modernisation, site optimisation, network expansion, and post-acquisition integration.
Key Executive Responsibilities
Strategic Capital Leadership
* Define and lead the group-wide capital strategy, ensuring alignment with long-term growth, operational priorities, and investment plans.
* Govern a portfolio of major, high-value capital projects across multiple food, beverage, and ingredients businesses.
* Partner with the COO, CFO, and divisional Managing Directors to prioritise strategic investments and commercial returns.
Engineering Excellence & Standards
* Establish and embed world-class engineering, project management, and technical standards across all facilities.
* Build a consistent framework for project controls, risk management, quality assurance, and safety performance.
* Champion engineering innovation, sustainability, and best practice across divisions.
Execution Oversight
* Provide senior oversight of project design, feasibility, planning, execution, commissioning, and operational handover.
* Strengthen delivery capability across the group, ensuring capital projects are delivered on time, on cost, and to the highest technical standards.
* Lead engineering governance for post-merger integration, ensuring acquired assets meet group standards and capex plans.
Leadership & Influence
* Lead and develop a high-performing capital projects organisation supporting multiple business units.
* Engage effectively at C-suite and Board level, providing clarity on capital performance, risk exposure, and strategic impact.
* Build alignment and influence senior stakeholders across diverse operational and cultural environments.
Your Profile
You are a senior engineering and capital projects leader with experience in food, beverage, or a closely related manufacturing sector. You bring:
* A proven track record of delivering large-scale, high-value capital projects across multiple facilities or business units.
* Experience operating within a multi-business, decentralised or diversified group structure.
* Strong exposure to post-acquisition integration or capital-led transformation programmes.
* Deep knowledge of engineering excellence, world-class manufacturing standards, and project governance.
* Executive presence, strategic capability, and the credibility to influence at the highest levels.
* Exceptional judgement, resilience, and the ability to operate in an environment of high visibility and accountability.